FAU-prison deal: "Dialogue" meeting ends with little resolution

Student protesters unmolified after meeting with administration

Students vowed more protests after a testy meeting Friday with Florida Atlantic University President Mary Jane Saunders, who said there was no way out of the deal that gave the naming rights for FAU's stadium to a prison company.

The controversy started last week when it was announced that the board of trustees voted to accept $6 million for the stadium naming rights from the Boca Raton-based GEO Group, a private provider of correctional, detention and community reentry services with 101 facilities around the globe.

What some have called an unprecendented partnership between a prison company and an institution of higher learning has lit up the blogosphere and spawned late-night comedian jokes. On Monday, a group of students occupied Saunders' office demanding more information about the deal, and she agreed to discuss it further at Friday's meeting — which drew a standing-room only crowd to the recruiting room of the stadium.

But this was no meeting of the minds.

Saunders said the controversy has been giving her sleepless nights.

"What brought us to this is really a love of FAU," she said, explaining that no other donor has come forward as FAU alum and GEO leader George Zoley has. "This gift was given with love."

"Dirty money," one attendee yelled out.

Kevin Wagner, a political science professor, who protesters said was not their choice for moderator, chided participants for speaking out of turn. He began the question and answer period by calling on people who supported the decision, inciting snorts of derision.

Student Rocco Voyeur of West Palm Beach said he learned about GEO's gift on the satirical late-night Comedy Central show "The Colbert Report."

"Are you concerned at all that this has given the university a stigma?" he asked.

The meeting became unruly at times, with moderator Wagner demanding order. In a number of cases, when there wasn't yelling as Saunders spoke, the sound of crickets chirping from cell phones was heard.

The company's record is not without controversy. A U.S. Justice Department investigation of a GEO youth facility in Mississippi last year found its detainees had suffered inappropriate sexual behavior, indifference to medical issues and excessive use of force from staff there.

Saunders defended the company, saying that it is overseen by government regulators.

"This is our own graduate who has been successful," she said, pointing out that other facilities have received high scores for their operation.

But Rory Padgett, a senior from Loxahatchee, said there is an exit clause in the contract. And he said he and his fellow "Stop Owlcatraz" protesters would be pressing for that to happen —with more protests.

"This meeting was ridiculous," he said.

FAU's administration did not respond to a request for further comment.